10 Blogging Tips for Beginners

December 4, 2014

I haven’t been around for very long, but I’ve been blown away by the amount of support and growth I’ve seen with Ymor Beauty. It just keeps getting better, and it made me want to create a short list of what I think helped solidify my blog’s foundation.

I created this part of my world on a random afternoon while I was on summer break from school. I was struggling to decompress–I was still strung up following an intense summer of clinical and theory. I needed a reason to write and I needed an outlet for all the non-medical information that piles up inside my thoughts. I’m curious by nature, and I spend a lot of time researching, and this has made me a source of information for friends and family. So, why not expand my audience?

An important note: success is subjective, and there is no formula out there to predict the outcome of your blog. That being said, here are 10 essentials that helped Ymor Beauty grow.

1. My #1 Rule

Don’t take it seriously. Hustle, maintain good work etiquette, and seize every opportunity to grow, but really, don’t take it seriously. And this applies to anything in life. We’re all living on a spinning mudball, trying to find purpose and passion. Have fun with it–this is a world you built and it can include, or exclude, whatever you want.

2. Stay Connected

This has been the toughest for me. Before creating Ymor Beauty, I didn’t have any social media accounts. The only apps I had downloaded on my phone were CBC News and the weather. Now, I have an Instagram, a Twitter, a Pinterest, and a Bloglovin account. (I still hate Twitter.) These social platforms have been so essential in getting my blog out there. Most importantly, I have been able to interact with my audience, make friends, and network with bloggers and companies. We live in an age where I can easily tag an individual and find myself on their radar. The more present I am online, the easier I am to find in search engines.

3. Be Resourceful

There’s a lot of resources out there that can help maximize your blogging success, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. I use the basics and I only plan to upgrade when I’m certain it’s feasible. Here are some great programs that I’m familiar with:

PicMonkey: this is a free picture editor and collage maker that doesn’t require installation.

Photoshop Editor: I use Photoshop CS6, but this is an alternative editor for quick fixes. No installation needed and it’s free.

StatCounter: if you’re hosted by WordPress, you can’t add as many features as you want, but you can paste this counter in a widget. I like how it differentiates between first time visitors and returning visitors.

Camera+: this is an app to help edit your pictures on the go. I take pictures with my phone and this helps me alter lighting and quality. Let me tell you… it’s all about lighting and angles!

4. Enjoy Your Workspace

You may not have a room dedicated for office-use (yet), but make the best with what you got! I’ve revamped my workspace to be welcoming, calming, and work-friendly. Make it yours and make it a space that you can spend hours in. I always look forward to lighting my candle and sitting by a vase of fresh flowers.

5. Always Interact

Follow blogs with similar interests, comment on posts that you enjoyed, be sincere with your audience and fellow bloggers. Build friendships and write in your own voice. I write how I speak so that my readers can hear a voice when they see my words. It’s my way of interacting with every unique reader.

6. Don’t Worry About Trendsetting

At some point, maybe you’ll be approached to write about new products that have yet to launch. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to review and talk about products that have been around for a while. I’ve reviewed things that have been on the market for 3+ years, but everyone writes differently!

7. Be Organized

Write everything down! I’m a stickler for schedules and notebooks because ideas come in waves. Sometimes, I don’t have access to my computer or time to write, so I’ll jot down ideas. (You will forget it.) The majority of my posts are scheduled–this sets soft deadlines for me and a creates consistency in my blogging.

8. Have Consistency

Be consistent, but focus on quality. You might not have anything to say for a week, and that’s ok. (But, I will get angry texts from friends if I’m gone too long.) Don’t rush content, don’t rush picture-taking, and don’t rush editing: it’s all in the detail. I write in chunks and I edit in chunks. I might write out my content and then add pictures the next day. This keeps things stress-free and fun.

9. Have Limits

This is important. Don’t pull a disk by throwing yourself head first and getting benched before you even have a taste of the game. Limits apply to social networking and creating content. I’ve established ‘social rounds’ (like medical rounds ha ha!): in the morning, with my coffee, I’ll check blog-related e-mails and social media. I take this time to read blogs, comment, creep on Twitter, post on Instagram, whatever! Then, I’m done for the day. I might check-in later in the afternoon or before bed on a slow day–but getting overwhelmed is not productive.

10. Plan For The Next Phase

These are just the basics. There is so much more to do and to try! There’s a whole blogging world beyond the basics. Take little bites and chew slowly. Savor the moment, but keep an eye-out on the next spoonful.

On another note, I have a good friend going through a vision-changing surgery today–so don’t be shy to think positive and send some good vibes over!

As always, thank you for reading. Most importantly, thank you for sticking around. I’ll talk to you soon.

Romy we must be connected… I’m sure of it huni lol Yesterday I composed something similar for Monday’s post, and we are indeed on the same page!!! Great tips – I’ve been blogging now for 18 months and I honestly made every mistake in the book with my 1st blog, bit of a learning curve to say the very least 😀 But I agree – get the basics right and the rest will follow suit! Karen X

We might be riding the same creative wavelength! I take that as a compliment 🙂 Most definitely Karen, I’m all about that solid and supportive foundation. I’d like to expand, but I need to be certain that Ymor Beauty can handle it! I’ll be on the look out for that tip post: I could always use new info or a different perspective. Thank you for being an active reader and sticking around!

You’re so welcome Romy 🙂 I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts, and love interaction so no doubt you’ll see my comments pop up every now and again lol I completely agree… building a good foundation is essential for being able to progress. Common sense & baby steps for me 🙂 X

Thankyou so much for taking the time to write this post! I just started my blog the night before last do I really appreciate the detail you’ve gone into here! If you have a spare minute I would love it if you could check mine out 🙂 http://www.jowelshx.wordpress.com xxx

I really liked this! I have not been blogging long either but have learned so much. I can really relate to your ideas on social media too, I rarely used personal social media accounts before I started blogging. 😉

Isn’t it such a shock? I still struggle with keeping up with social media, and sometimes, I feel uncomfortable sharing too much–but I guess that’s the beauty of blogging–you can embody your blogs name and not feel so exposed! It’s a learning curve for sure. Thanks for stopping by!

This is very resourceful Romy, especially with the great programs you suggested! I would say yes it is important to stay true to oneself and write about things that matter to us the most, and also engage with readers that stop by to say hi 🙂 I’ve learned that blogging is not a one way street but a rewarding journey through the exchange of ideas between people. I was really inspired by this post, thanks for sharing!! 🙂 xo~ Lena

I completely agree Lena. I so enjoy reading your comments and talking with you–I think this blog has been a great platform for meeting like-minded people and just having fun sharing thoughts. Thank you for being such an active reader and fellow blogger!

Hi! Great post! I love PicMonkey too – it’s great…but my pictures in general suck because I’m still using my hubby’s Iphone to take pictures…we have a camera SOMEWHERE in the house! I agree with not taking it too seriously. Oddly, I started getting more followers once I relaxed a little and started to think about the kind of posts I would want to read, not what just happened to be in my brain or at the top of my makeup bag that day. I wish I had more time to comment and read other blogs too, but…c’est la vie! 🙂

I totally agree with the relaxing part. I just let it flow! Whether it is well-received or not, I still enjoy sharing and writing. I know! It is time consuming, but I enjoy it. I have to dedicate my coffee hour early in the morning to reading and interacting with bloggers and audience. Thank you for stopping by!

This i really useful information about new bloggers, i am also new blogger last month i started my blog so quite useful to me and specially those resources you shard for photos and editing. I use pizap and photobucket for editing pics, i will try you suggested above and see how they work. I have followed you on twitter and bloglovin 😉